ANXA5 and malignant colon neoplasm: This reduction in metabolic viability corresponded to an increase in apoptosis induction, as DRE treatment triggered apoptosis selectively in colon cancer cells, but not in normal mucosal cells, which was subsequently confirmed by fluorescence microscopy following Hoechst 33342, propidium iodide and Annexin V staining, to observe the nuclear morphology, cell membrane integrity and externalization of phosphatidylserine respectively.